Making it big in Hollywood is a dream for many. 

That includes service men and women. Don't think there's much crossover between a gunner and a grip? Think again.

Jack Lemmon was a Veteran. James Garner served. Clark Gable, Steve McQueen, Bea Arthur, Oliver Stone...The list goes on and on.

Karen Kraft and Ryan Curtis are both Army Veterans, and members of VFT, Veterans in Film and Television. It's an organization in LA that pairs ex-military personnel with Hollywood jobs.

Karen is also a producer and television executive and Ryan's a director and cinematographer. They told Take Two that Veterans possess unique qualities that make them great candidates for jobs in the entertainment industry.

Spreading that message is part of the mission of Veterans in Film and Television. They want people to know that Veterans are willing to put in the hard work required to make it in the Biz.

"A lot of young people without the military background tend to want to go right from film school into directing and can't understand why someone's not giving them a $10 million feature out of the gate. In the military side, you understand progression and learning skill-sets along the way," Karen says.

Veterans have exceptional stories to tell too. And VFT hopes to put more Veterans in positions in front of, and behind, the camera to bring those stories to life.

This piece is part of KPCC's ongoing coverage of issues affecting veterans for Veterans Day 2014. See more of our coverage at KPCC.org/vets.